China & Silverware (2/2)
In the era of the great trans-Atlantic liners, traveling first-class meant the height of luxury. Of the Andrea Doria, the Italian Line said, "She was also designed as a living testament to the importance of beauty in the everyday world." This was reflected in every part of the ship, right down to the china service.
Each piece of this elaborate first-class china bears a scene in an oriental design. There are a number of different scenes, and a stylized version of the Italia crest was used to complement the design.
The standard first-class china was less ornate, but elegant in its simplicity, with a border and crest of red and gold leaf.
The china used by the second- and third-class passengers was plainer than the first-class pieces but is still evidence of the Italian Line's commitment to "beauty in everyday life" aboard ship.
In pictures onboard the ship, vases like this one appear on each table in the dining room. The vase is made from a low-quality clay, decorated with a floral design.
Original NJScuba website by Tracy Baker Wagner 1994-1996
